Jeffrey A. Cooper is a Professor of Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law , where he teaches courses in estate planning, wills and trusts, and taxation. He previously served as Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and is currently faculty adviser to the Quinnipiac Probate Law Journal . Education: AB from Harvard University, JD from Yale University, LLM from New York University Research Interests: His work focuses on tax policy , estate and gift taxation , and the intersection of federal tax law with state probate systems . He specializes in trust enforceability , uniform trust code , and historical analysis of tax legislation. Publications: Recent articles address perpetual trusts , state death tax decline , and curriculum reforms in estate planning education. His scholarship is widely published in national law journals and cited in casebooks. Scientific Awards: Academic Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) Faculty Scholar, Quinnipiac University Professional Background: Before academia, Cooper practiced law for over a decade as a principal at Cummings & Lockwood, senior officer at United States Trust Company, and special counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. He also served as a senior adviser to Fiduciary Trust Company International.
Sarah Turnbull is an Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo, affiliated with the Balsillie School for International Affairs. Her work intersects criminology, sociolegal studies, and critical border/migration studies, focusing on immigration detention, deportation, punishment, and social justice through postcolonial, antiracist, and feminist lenses. Education: PhD and MA in Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies from the University of Toronto; BA from Simon Fraser University. Her current research includes: (1) a SSHRC-funded study on the National Immigration Detention Framework in Canada using Foucauldian genealogical methods; (2) the Prison Transparency Project , a comparative analysis of carceral transparency in Canada, Spain, and Argentina; and (3) a transatlantic study on pandemic impacts in prisons. She employs ethnographic and qualitative methods in her research. Selected Grants: 2023–2030: Co-Investigator, Prison Transparency Project (SSHRC Partnership Grant). 2022–2025: Principal Investigator, Reforming Detention (SSHRC Insight Grant). 2022–2023: Co-Principal Investigator, COVID-19 Justice as Penal Justice (Strathclyde-Waterloo Transatlantic Award). Turnbull’s publications and collaborations emphasize systemic inequalities, carceral mobilities, and ethical research practices. She co-founded the Prison Transparency Project and has contributed to dialogues on art as resistance in detention settings.
Catherine Anne Brown is a Professor at the Faculty of Law, University of Calgary with extensive international experience, having held visiting professorships at Stanford University (as a Fulbright Fellow), University of Toronto, UCLA, McGeorge School of Law, and Whittier Law School. Her expertise spans taxation, international trade law, and estate planning across multiple jurisdictions. Her research focuses on the critical intersection of tax and trade agreements, particularly how non-discrimination principles operate within services trade frameworks. Current work examines tax treaty mechanisms for addressing discriminatory practices in cross-border commerce, building on her 2017 monograph "Tax Discrimination and Trade in Services". She actively explores evolving regulatory challenges in digital services taxation and international compliance. Professor Brown's scholarship demonstrates consistent engagement with practical legal applications, bridging academic theory and professional practice through textbooks, treatises, and policy-oriented analyses. Her publications reveal progressive specialization in tax-trade interfaces while maintaining foundational contributions to estate planning education. Her distinguished career has been recognized through: Lifetime Achievement Award (Canadian Tax Foundation, 2017) Doug Sherbaniuk Award for Distinguished Writing (Canadian Tax Foundation, 2014) Award for Distinguished Service in Legal Scholarship (Law Society of Alberta/Canadian Bar Association, 2011) Widdifield Award for estate planning scholarship (2006, 2012) Induction into the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law (2012) As an educator, she directed the Business Clinical program until 2014, providing practical training in business law applications. She maintains active professional engagement through appointments to the NAFTA Chapter 19 roster (2018), STEP Canada's Public Policy Committee (2016), and the Canada Revenue Agency's Offshore Compliance Advisory Committee (2016), while serving on the Legal Education Society of Alberta's Board of Directors.
Sebastian Kube is a Professor of Behavioral and Experimental Economics at the University of Bonn, Germany. He holds concurrent positions as Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Public Goods, Research Fellow at the Institute for the Future of Labor (IZA), and Vice Director of the BonnEconLab. He also coordinates the European Doctoral Program in Quantitative Economics and serves on multiple editorial/research boards. University of Bonn Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) BonnEconLab European Doctoral Program in Quantitative Economics His experimental research examines social preferences , cooperation mechanisms , incentive design , and norm enforcement . Key areas include: how remuneration schemes affect workplace cooperation, the effectiveness of social sanctions in social dilemmas, and the psychological foundations of environmental behavior. Recent work explores trust communication strategies for maintaining cooperation, information asymmetry effects in group dynamics, and incentive reversal phenomena where higher rewards paradoxically reduce effort. His 2025 publications particularly focus on sanction removal strategies and environmental behavior. Scientific Awards: Excellence in Teaching Award (2017, 2016, 2015, 2012) IZA Young Labor Economist Award (2011) Etienne-Laspeyres Prize (2011) Heinz Sauermann Prize (2004) As Vice Director of BonnEconLab, he oversees experimental infrastructure for economic research. His methodological approach combines field experiments with laboratory studies , often using behavioral game theory frameworks. He has published extensively in top journals including American Economic Review , Journal of Public Economics , and Management Science .
John D. Morley is the Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law at Yale Law School. He holds a B.S. from the University of Utah (2003) and a J.D. from Yale Law School (2006). His research focuses on the law and economics of organizations, particularly investment funds (mutual, private equity, and hedge funds), law firm dynamics, and trusts and estates. He teaches courses on business organizations, securities regulation, trusts and estates, and investment management regulation. Morley previously served as a faculty member at the University of Virginia School of Law and as Executive Director of the Center for the Study of Corporate Law at Yale. He is the reporter for the Uniform Directed Trust Act and has advised on legal reforms. His recent work examines political pressures on law firms and their vulnerabilities in adversarial environments, as highlighted in his analyses of Trump administration policies and SPAC litigation. Key contributions include studies on law firm collapses, the historical role of common law trusts, and regulatory challenges in investment management. He frequently engages with media on legal topics, appearing in outlets like the New York Times, Bloomberg, and Wall Street Journal, and hosts the Capitalisn't podcast discussing law firms’ ethical dilemmas and structural challenges.
Professor Philip Birch is a distinguished academic in Criminology at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Design & Society, School of International Studies & Education. With over 15 years of academic experience across British, American, and Australian university systems, he has established himself as a leading expert in policing, community safety, and criminal justice. His extensive practical background in criminology, including roles as a Specialist Crime Team Manager, Community Safety Research Manager, and Through Care Worker in UK correctional facilities, informs his applied research approach. Professor Birch's educational background includes a BSocSci. (Hons) in Social Policy (Crime & Justice) from the University of Manchester, multiple postgraduate qualifications from the Open University (including an MSc. in Social & Criminological Research Methods), a Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Practice from the University of Huddersfield, and a PhD in Criminology from the University of New South Wales. He also holds a Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy. His research centers on six key areas: Police & Policing; Community Safety & Crime Prevention; Prisons, Probation & Parole Policy & Practice; Assessment, Treatment & Management of Offenders; Gender & sexuality inclusive Domestic and Family Violence; and Sex Work, Sex Workers and Procurement. His work emphasizes the practical application of criminological research to real-world justice issues, with strong industry engagement across law enforcement and correctional services. Recent publications reveal a clear trend toward police mental health, aging in policing, hate crime identification, trauma-informed policing approaches, and digital community safety initiatives. His research employs diverse methodologies including qualitative case studies, Delphi methods, rapid evidence assessments, and comparative analyses across multiple jurisdictions. Teaching award (2019) from Australian College of Educators for outstanding contribution to education Literati Award (2019) for published work Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy Professor Birch has supervised numerous Honours, Masters by Coursework, Masters by Research and PhD students in Criminology, Criminal Justice and Policing, with several completions to date. He has secured over $1.3 million in research funding, including an ARC Linkage grant, and has acted as an external assessor for domestic and international funding bodies. His research projects address critical issues in criminology and policing, often with direct policy implications. He established the Crime & Security Science (CaSS) Research Group at UTS in 2022, a cross-faculty initiative connecting academia with industry to advance evidence-based criminology, criminal justice, policing, and community safety research. This group serves as a hub for collaborative projects addressing contemporary security challenges through translational research.
Joseph Frey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of North Texas. His research focuses on stigma-related issues affecting marginalized populations, including LGBTQ+ communities and families involved in social service systems. He examines intersections between mental health, criminal justice policies, and child welfare, with a particular emphasis on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and parenting support mechanisms. His work utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methods to address systemic barriers in service provision. Key themes include the impact of regional cultural attitudes on sexual identity stigma in the American South, the role of probation officer networks in connecting individuals with mental health resources, and strategies to enhance parental self-efficacy in under-resourced communities. Dr. Frey has published extensively on topics such as Head Start program effectiveness, latent class analysis of ACEs, and peer support interventions for fathers. His scholarship bridges academic research with practical applications in social work practice and policy development.
Rachel Ellis is an Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland. Her research focuses on women's experiences of punishment in the U.S., employing qualitative methods like ethnography and interviews to explore themes of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion in carceral contexts. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania, as well as MA and BA degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University, respectively. Ellis's current projects include a Russell Sage-funded study on women’s lived experiences on probation and an interview-based examination of women's reentry after incarceration. Her 2023 book, *In This Place Called Prison: Women's Religious Life in the Shadow of Punishment*, analyzes how religion shapes freedom and constraint within prisons. Recent publications address topics such as desistance narratives, maternal incarceration impacts, and the porous nature of prison institutions. Her teaching includes courses like *CCJS342 Corrections* and *CCJS418C Gender and Crime*, reflecting her commitment to integrating research into pedagogy. Ellis advises three current graduate students and has contributed to prominent journals in criminology and sociology. Her work bridges sociological theory with empirical research on criminal justice systems and gendered inequality.
Dr. Sarah Hupp Williamson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civic Engagement and Public Service at University College, University of West Georgia. She specializes in criminology with a focus on human trafficking, global inequality, and media representations of crime. Her research examines the intersections of globalization, power structures, and criminal behavior across multiple contexts. Dr. Williamson holds a B.A. (2013) and M.A. (2015) in Criminology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from North Carolina State University (2019). Her educational background provides a strong foundation in sociological analysis of crime patterns. Her research focuses on: Human trafficking networks and policy responses in global contexts Criminological theory development through integrated frameworks Media representations of crime and their societal impacts Neoliberal economic policies and their relationship to criminal activity Recent publications demonstrate her exploration of human trafficking mechanisms, media-fueled crime panics, and economic policy impacts. Her work consistently integrates sociological theory with empirical analysis of global crime patterns. Dr. Williamson teaches courses including Criminological Theory, Global Crime and Justice, Human Trafficking, and Environmental Crime, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to criminal justice studies.
Professor Coral Dando is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Westminster, leading research in forensic cognition and investigative interviewing. With a background as a London Police Officer, she completed a BSc (Hons) Psychology and PhD in Applied Forensic Cognition. She is a Chartered Psychologist, National Teaching Fellow, and Registered Forensic Psychologist. Her research focuses on eyewitness memory, deception detection, and cross-cultural interviewing, with a particular emphasis on improving investigative methods in security and forensic contexts. Her academic roles include teaching forensic psychology modules (e.g., detecting deception, investigative interviewing) and supervising PhD students researching topics like virtual environments in interviews and neurodivergent credibility. She has secured significant research funding from entities like the Home Office, FBI, and CPNI, totaling over £2M across projects addressing insider threats, county lines exploitation, and aviation security. Key Research Themes: Eyewitness reliability, cognitive interviewing techniques, cross-cultural persuasion, and insider threat detection. Grants: Includes a 2024 €97,000 COST grant for implementing the Mendez Principles and a 2016 $469,000 FBI-funded study on intelligence interviewing. Professor Dando’s work bridges academia and practice, training professionals from police forces, security agencies, and NGOs. She contributes to policy development and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including seminal works on the cognitive interview and WAFA (Witness-Aimed First Account) for neurodivergent individuals. Her research emphasizes ethical, context-aware methodologies to enhance justice outcomes.
Alexandra Cox is an Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Reading, serving as Programme Director for the BSc in Criminology. She holds a Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Cambridge and a Yale undergraduate degree. Previously, she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex, Assistant Professor at SUNY New Paltz, and Research Scholar at Yale Law School. Her research focuses on socio-legal dynamics of punitiveness, criminal justice institutions, youth justice, and racial inequities. She has authored/co-edited books like Trapped in a Vice and The Palgrave International Handbook of Youth Imprisonment , and her work has been published in journals such as Punishment and Society and Social & Legal Studies . Dr. Cox collaborates with organizations like Reprieve, the Howard League, and the Centre for Justice Innovation on projects addressing race and criminal justice policy. She has received awards including the American Society of Criminology Book Award and fellowships from the Gates Cambridge Trust and Soros Justice Advocacy. Her research emphasizes intersectional analysis, decarceration strategies, and the impact of systemic racism within criminal justice systems. Her recent publications explore topics such as Black fatherhood in youth justice, probation officer perspectives on systemic legitimacy, and racial disparities in youth diversion programs. She actively advises Ph.D. students researching criminological and socio-legal issues, with a focus on frontline workers, juvenile confinement, and racial justice.
Ben Ost is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the Department of Economics within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (2011) and a BA from Grinnell College (2006). His research focuses on labor economics and the economics of education, with specific interests in teacher quality, higher education outcomes, and applied econometric methodologies. Educationally, Ost has contributed to understanding how academic policies like probation systems and honors programs affect student performance and earnings. He has examined generational differences in teacher effectiveness, employer connections in college networks, and omitted variable bias in statistical models. His work frequently employs regression discontinuity designs and value-added modeling to assess educational interventions and labor market dynamics. Key Research Themes: Teacher development, college access policies, human capital formation, and peer effects. Grant Funding: Principal Investigator for $47,000 Spencer Foundation grant and $3,894 OSSR grant. Teaching: Award-winning instructor in graduate microeconometrics, labor economics, and education economics courses. Recognized with the UIC TRP Award (2011-2016), Ost has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students, serving as committee chair or member for over 20 advisees. His professional service includes peer-review roles for top journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and American Economic Review, alongside NSF grant reviewing.
Professor Alastair Owens is a historical geographer and social/economic historian at Queen Mary University of London , specializing in modern Britain since 1800 with a focus on London . He received a Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2024) for his project on inheritance, families, and 'wealthfare' in England and Wales (1850–1930). Owens has held leadership roles including Chair of Trustees at the Geographical Association (UK’s leading geography teaching body) and Head of School of Geography (2018–2022). Research Themes : Anglicanism & inner city crisis (1970s–1990s), COVID-19 domestic geographies , inheritance & middle-class wealth (1850–1930), inclusive heritage in East London. Collaborations : Partnered with Museum of the Home , Museum of London , Spitalfields Music , and Tower Hamlets Archives for projects blending geography with history, archaeology, and heritage. Teaching : Led innovative modules like Boston Reworked (fieldwork in the US) and Victorian London , winning the Drapers’ Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003). Public Engagement : Created heritage trails (e.g., Bengali Heritage Trail ), co-produced museum exhibitions, and advised TV/film production companies. Scientific Awards : Leverhulme Research Fellowship (2024) Drapers’ Award for Excellence in Teaching (2003) Research Trends : His recent work examines pandemic-induced transformations of domestic space, inner-city religious responses to social crises, and the role of inheritance in shaping social inequality. He emphasizes interdisciplinary methodologies, combining archival research with oral histories and material culture analysis.
Per-Åke Nylander is a Senior Lecturer at Örebro University, affiliated with the School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences and the Department of Behavioral, Social and Legal Sciences. He holds a PhD in Social Work (2011) and has extensive experience as a social worker (1978–1993), later transitioning to academia. His research focuses on prison work, probation services, drug treatment, and the impacts of parental imprisonment on children. Educations: BA in Social Work (1978), MA in Social Work (1996), PhD in Social Work (2011). Research interests include prison officer occupational culture, drug treatment in prisons, and the socioemotional dynamics of correctional work. He has led projects like 'Prison-based Drug Treatment in Nordic Countries' (2012–2014) and 'Childhood with a Parent in Prison' (2015–2016). Collaborates with international networks in confinement and emotion research, and contributes to research groups ProSA and CAPS. Publications span over 20 years, addressing prison management, prisoner well-being, and penal policy. His work bridges academic research and professional practice, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and systemic reforms. Teaching roles include courses on prison work, criminology, and social pedagogy. He developed the University Course for Prison Officers (2002–2012), integrating theoretical and practical training.
Karen Sneddon serves as Dean of Mercer University School of Law, appointed permanently on May 31, 2023, after acting as interim dean since October 1, 2021. She holds the position of Professor of Law at Mercer, where she has been a faculty member since 2006, previously serving as associate dean for faculty research and development. Her academic credentials include summa cum laude degrees from Louisiana State University and Tulane Law School. Prior to Mercer, she was a Forrester Fellow at Tulane Law School and held visiting positions at the William S. Boyd School of Law (UNLV) and ELTE Law in Budapest. Dean Sneddon's research centers on legal writing pedagogy, trusts and estates, succession law, and narrative theory in legal contexts. Her scholarship bridges doctrinal law with communication studies, emphasizing how storytelling shapes legal interpretation and transactional practice. She has pioneered approaches to legal education through textbooks and practical guides. Her recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on narrative techniques in estate planning and transactional law, with recurring themes of gender inclusivity and reader engagement in legal writing. This work culminated in the Teresa G. Phelps Award recognition for advancing legal communication scholarship. She has received the following scientific award: 2020 Teresa G. Phelps Scholarship Award for Legal Communication Dean Sneddon maintains active leadership in professional organizations including the Legal Writing Institute, Association of Legal Writing Directors, and Southeastern Association of Law Schools, where she contributes to national standards in legal education. Her ongoing 'Writing Matters' column in the Georgia Bar Journal since 2008 demonstrates sustained commitment to practitioner education.
